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Glens Success in Northern Ireland Boys' FA Cup

Tue, 03/05/2016 - 21:33

Glens Success in Northern Ireland Boys' FA Cup

Glentoran Academy claimed a memorable double yesterday at the Meadowbank Sports Arena in Magherafelt at the annual NIBFA Cup finals day. Our U12s and U15s both won their finals 2-0 as the U12s claimed their maiden tournament win in the NIBFA Cup and our U15s landed an incredible fourth NIBFA Cup in five seasons. Our U16s are yet to compete in their final – which was delayed due to International call ups – as the Academy goes in search of a hat-trick.

Most clubs within youth ranks use league fixtures to rotate players and play younger players up through age groups as the leagues are seen primarily as a platform for development – however the NIBFA Cup is widely regarded as the bench mark competition in youth football in Northern Ireland. It is therefore pleasing that no club had more teams in the finals than Glentoran and if the U16s do claim victory later in the month then we will have won more competitions than anyone else this season!

Our impressive U12 side met Portadown in the final while our U15s triumphed over Crusaders. The U16s will face West Belfast side Newhill in their final. Read on for brief match reports from yesterday’s games.

Carson the Catalyst for Glens' Success

Glentoran U12s arrived in Magherafelt as the in form team in Northern Ireland having only lost one game all season and boasting a plethora of Club NI ‘Internationals’ in the squad. In ordinary circumstances they would have been heavy favourites to land their first NIBFA Cup triumph however their opponents were Portadown – the team that inflicted that solitary defeat on the Glens in a League Cup tie just a month previously, so the final was on a knife edge.

What had been a fine day soon turned to wind and hail as the warm ups commenced and kick off fast approached. As the game got underway the Glens had the elements in their favour in the opening exchanges and this, coupled with a desire to hit back at the Ports for that League Cup defeat, saw the Glens come flying out of the blocks. The enjoyed the lion’s share of possession but failed to make the Ports goalkeeper work until 15 minutes into the game when they gave an exhibition to the watching crowds on ‘playing out from the back’, goalkeeper Graham took a short goal kick to Wilson, who returned it to Graham who came under pressure from the Ports number 9, Graham remained cool and switched the play to the other side where Jonny Russell played the ball into midfield, the Glens broke down the right hand side and four passes later the ball was whipped into the box where it was helped onto the back post by Marshall where Matthew Carson was on hand to slot the ball under the keeper and into the corner of the net for 1-0.

The Glens turned up the heat on the Ports at this stage and went close again through a long range effort by midfield maestro Charlie Lindsay that flew just wide. Next Morgan Magennis had an effort which he fired over the top before the Glens forced a corner. Goal scorer Carson drilled a delivery into the box to be met by a trade mark near post run by goal machine Callum Marshall who glanced a header into the net from 6 yards for 2-0.

The sunshine made a brief return for the half time interval before the elements again intervened to make the second half a war of attrition for both teams but Glentoran were always in command as Manager Jason Lindsay made best use of his rolling subs to keep the players fresh and focused and as the game wore on it looked the Glens more likely to grab another with Dylan Graham in the Glentoran goal the equal to anything Portadown could muster from long range.

Despite the conditions Glentoran still tried to play entertaining football to warm up the watching crowds but their efforts went unrewarded in terms of finding the killer third goal that would have settled some nerves but in truth it was not needed as the boys closed the game out very professionally to seal a well-deserved 2-0 win.

 

 

Conn Conjures the Magic as Glens Claim Fourth Cup

Christopher Conn turned in a memorable display for Glentoran in the May Day Final as he provided the spark that set Glentoran’s performance alight in Magherafelt. There were several heroic displays all over the pitch with the Glens showing all the class in the first half with the sort of display you would expect in an exhibition game rather than a cup final. Warnock was a colossus at the back while Gallagher ran the show in midfield and allowed Conn, Ben Cushnie and the fantastic Mal Smyth the time and space to run at Crusaders.

Glentoran showed no signs of nerves and with the advantage of the elements at their backs they set about taking the game to Crusaders. The one and two touch passing football was a joy to behold at times as the Glens looked to seal their fourth title in five years in their competition. The game was one of the most highly anticipated of the day as Crusaders came into the final on the crest of a wave having reached the League Cup Final and put themselves in a strong position to challenge league leaders Cliftonville but it was the Glens who settled into their rhythm and with Conn on the pitch they had a player capable of producing the magic needed to open up tight encounters.

It was through Conn’s fantastic approach play that Glentoran found their way to a 1-0 lead – Conn weaved his way past two Crusaders defenders and into the box where be beat a third and struck a low shot down to the keepers left which came back off the post, Ben Cushnie was alive to the action and pounced to hammer the ball into the top corner from 12 yards for 1-0.

The Glens then went close through Conn again, who fired over and Mal Smyth who was tormenting the Crues back line as he shot just wide before Sean Gallagher also fired just passed the post. Half time 1-0

The game was finely balanced at half time and with Crusaders having the wind in their favour now it was going to be a tall order for the boys to hold out but they managed to restrict the Crues to long range efforts and continued to try and play football. It was through playing out that the Glens got caught and Crusaders came the closest they would come all afternoon to a goal when a mix up in the Glens defence allowed the Crues wide man to fire a long range cross/shot over the head of McLaughlin but it smashed off the Cross bar and came back out to the relief of Glens boss Glenn Lowry who reacted by putting on Caolan Conlon in an advanced midfield role. Caolan’s high energy impact on the game seemed to help the Glens re-establish themselves in the match and they propelled forward again looking for the second. It duly arrived as Mal Smyth went on another mazy dribble before firing into the corner of the net to spark jubilant scenes of celebration as the Glens had one hand on the trophy!

One hand became two as the Glens seen out the final ten minutes weathering the Crusaders storm with Paul McLaughlin keeping a richly deserved clean sheet allowing skipper Lewis McGarvey the chance to lift another NIBFA Cup for Glentoran.